LAKE ELSINORE: City awaits final decision on city manager

Lake Elsinore City Hall observers were left Thursday trying to decipher the City Council's decision behind closed doors Wednesday night to place their chief administrator on paid leave.

The five
council members
are scheduled to make a final decision on City Manager Bob Brady's job status in another closed session prior to Tuesday's regular meeting.

"For all of us who weren't in there, it would be conjecture," said
Allen Baldwin
, the city's elected treasurer. "What I know is I've got to be very worried about the city staff, and I'm worried about the huge challenges we face as we move ahead."

Said veteran city activist and avid Brady supporter Chris Hyland: "I have no idea what's going on and neither does anyone else. To me, they're destroying everything."

Brady could not be reached for comment Thursday.

His last official act was to designate Aquatic Resources, Parks and Recreation Director Pat Kilroy to lead the city in his absence, as has occurred in the past when Brady was on vacation.

"I'm just going to make sure that the city employees conduct the business of the people," Kilroy said. "We represent 50,000 citizens here."

No one outside of the council, the city attorney and Brady can say for sure what went on in their private discussion Wednesday in a room at the Cultural Center that culminated in the public announcement of the manager's changed status. Those who were in the room are legally bound not to speak publicly about what was said.

But some in the community speculate the decision to put Brady on leave was handwriting on the wall that he will be let go.

"I just think it's transitional," said another longtime activist Tim Fleming. "It comes with the times. Basically, everybody's a little more conscious of expenses and how they're being governed and what they're getting for their money."

Fleming was among a handful of residents at Wednesday's meeting who called for the council to ax
Brady
, who has been the city manager since 2005 and an employee since 1998.

When asked why he wanted Brady gone, Fleming said, "Track record," adding that he blamed Brady for the long delay in getting a revised general plan adopted.

The document, technically an update of the city's general plan dating to 1990, took seven years with several major twists in the road before finally receiving the council's approval in mid-December.

Fleming also contends code enforcement has been inconsistent under Brady's tenure.

"Bob Brady's a great guy," Fleming said. "Everybody likes him, but after seven years at the helm, there's just too many (problems) coming up constantly."

Yet the overwhelming sentiment at the meeting favored Brady ---- 22 of 28 folks who addressed the council favored keeping him on board.

"He's the most honest one we've ever had," Hyland said, referring to the city's history with city managers over the past few decades.

Lake Elsinore municipal employees were trying to carry on as usual Thursday after the City Council's decision.